Hollister police arrested a man suspected of assaulting a Rite Aid employee during a theft.
Police arrested Timothy Valencia, 27, after he was accused of stealing merchandise from the store on Airline Highway, according to police.
A store employee at about 8 p.m. Nov. 6 reported to police that the suspect was in the store and hid merchandise in his clothes before leaving. She confronted him outside the store, reported to police that he violently pushed her into a display before running away on foot.
The employee, who was injured in the assault, then called 911 to report the incident. A description went over the radio, and Officer Luis Toribio promptly located the man a few blocks away. Toribio and Officer Bo Leland caught the man after a brief foot chase.
Valencia was later identified by witnesses as the suspect in the robbery. He was booked at the San Benito County Jail on recommended charges of robbery, vandalism and resisting arrest. He remains there with bail set at $51,000.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Officer Bo Leland at (831) 636-4331. People wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTIP at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may result in an award of up to $1,000.
